Bad Feeling

Recently, it has come to my attention that there seems to be a fair bit of bad feeling concerning the weekly contest. I only bring it up myself because I am aware that the judges have been good enough to deem my poems as worthy of a WIN a few times in recent weeks and I'm not sure that sits well with everybody.
I just want everyone to know that I joined this site for my love of poetry (not just writing, but reading and commenting as well) and since I have been here, it has added a new dimension to my life; It's a lovely little outlet and a place I can write again, which I hadn't done since I was a teenager and talk with people of a like mind.
It has been pointed out that a fair few members of Phoenix Rising have won obver the last few months; in fact, conscious bias is given as the reason.
I have left my club so that - should I win again - no one can point that finger at the club itself (most importantly) or me.

As above, I love writing and if people enjoy my work that's wonderful, but I don't write on this site to win the weekly. I love winning, but that's not what it's about for me. I don't nominate my own poems and I don't vote for them, yet I feel some bad feeling developing.

If you have had enough of me, don't read my work and certainly stop nominating it, if you enjoy it, then great; but what I don't think we should be doing is pulling winning pieces down and judges efforts week in and week out; if that is the way of it, I would rather never be considered.

I apologise to anyone who feels I am getting undeserved attention - for whatever reason. I myself said quite clearly a week ago that "I will not settle for the dregs" by me did not deserve the spotlight, but poems are subjective so I respect the judges decision.

All I would ask - and bearing in mind how frustrating it must be for the judges who have to keep out of this for the time being - is for everyone to show a little respect to the time they are giving and the simple fun that this competition is and not make it a miserable experience for all involved as we seem intent on doing.

All the very best,
Ben

Hmm. This was an interesting yet puzzling thread for me to see posted on the boards. Why? Because I wasn't aware that this sort of thing was being discussed on the site. I haven't had anyone approach me or make conversation with me regarding Phoenix Rising consistently winning, or more specifically, heard anything about how often you have been winning, Ben. I myself don't see a pattern, however I'm not actively looking for one either.

In the past issues like this have come up. I myself know what its like to have my poetry win the weekly contest that I don't really see fit. Truth is though I think the judges that volunteer every term are more than capable of making excellent decisions, so I don't think much of it when my poems win anymore.

I'm sad to hear you have removed yourself from your club due to nonsense such as this. I say good on Phoenix Rising for having talented club members who write the good stuff.

Ah, so I've come across the thread all this is being discussed in. Let me catch up on the last couple of posts and get back to you.

I feel your frustration Ben,

however there was no need to leave your club. Especially if you were happy there.

(This coming from somebody who has left 4 clubs)

I have been here a while now, this is my second account after I stupidly deleted my first.
These weekly contest are bias threads pop up every now and again. In fact I may have even begun one myself many moons ago.

Enjoy your wins. They are deserved. I used to win fairly frequently then nothing, I put this down to two things,

1) The judges at that time liked my writing style
2) At that time I was writing a new poem nearly every day.
(More poems increases odds of nominations and wins)

During the nothing period?

Different judges and I wasn't writing nearly as much.

(probably more the latter)

It is impossible to avoid any bias when judging.
I have judged a number of times, Once I decided not to vote for any poems from my club members, this was wrong.
I was bias to any other nominated poems from non club members.

The weekly isn't perfect but it is still nice to get a win, even now.

I know how tough is it to judge, to set time aside to read every nominated poem and come up with three decent comments with valid reasons for scoring them 10, 7 or 5 points.

Just enjoy the wins and enjoy the threads, never see them as a personal attack. Sometimes these topics pop up to give us all something to talk about and breath a little life back into the site.

Ben, this happens every so often when people get bored and need to stir some drama up. There will always be potential for bias, and sure that may happen sometimes, but we keep a pretty regular eye on winners, HM's etc and who votes on what to see if we have the same people voting for the same people over and over and over.

Not to spoil a mod/judge secret, but there is only one PR judge at this time, unless something has changed I don't know about.

It's impossible to cast your 10, 7, and 4 on one single poem alone. So unless this judge is out lobbying for PR members (which is impossible because these people don't know who each other is..), it may just be PR is active on posting poetry the judges like.

Go back to your club. Don't worry about this. When a mod won three weeks in a row (diff mods) it was a conspiracy then, too. The Club used to be the target, the MM, then FOP... it's about time PR got some blame ;)

I challenge those claiming bias to be a judge. ;)

You write well, Ben, that's why you win. PR is an active club and it's no wonder you guys win a lot when you're consistently churning out the good stuff.

If I start writing a lot again and my poetry is worthwhile, I'll expect to beat you out now and then. That'll be the day. Meanwhile, many of the decent writers here on PnQ are not writing much these days, and the decent ones who are writing... well, they're getting the credit. As it should be.

Many of us have gone through periods of win after win. Hard to say if it's timing, popularity, style, etc. There's probably some bias, but winners gracing the front page ebb and flow like the tides (at a slower pace).

Don't doubt yourself. You do you. please rejoin your club before they raise the war cry.

Thanks everyone for these comments - it puts things in perspective.

Personally I tend to get glaze-eyed when these complaints come up. It's not just PR. If some mods happen to win a few times, then it's attack on buttering up the mods. Two different people accused the judges of not even reading their poems (because, of course, if they had read the poems the votes would certainly have gone for them.)

Funny though, Ben, I have not heard anyone ever say: "the judges are biased - they should not have voted for my poem, I'm deleting it to remove the stain."

Nope never heard that - even though everyone who has cried bias has been on the front page at some point.